Better late than never: India on OZ uranium sale

New Delhi: Terming Australia`s indication to
lift the ban on uranium supplies as "better late than never",
India on Thursday said it is waiting to see the final decision that
Canberra would reach on the issue in view of differences
within the ruling Labour Party.
Official sources said New Delhi was not surprised by
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard`s hint that her
government wanted to do away with the ban on supplying uranium
to India which is not an NPT-signatory.

"It is better late than never," a senior official source
said on Gillard`s announcement.

However, the source added that the Australian government
was still to take a decision.

"They have to first argue among themselves... First let
them decide," the source said, adding it will be decided later
as to whether or not a civil nuclear deal would be required or
just a contract would do.

With regard to an agreement reached between the US and
Australia under which America will position its troops there,
the sources said India will make its assessment about it on
the basis of facts.

It was not immediately clear as to how many troops will be
positioned there, sources said.
At the same time, the sources noted that geographically,
India is located centrally to the world and any developments
in East, Central or West Asia will have impact on it.